Raceway Seal 230.8

[102 Inspector]

Still under 2008 Edition, another inspector says that a meter base mounted 5 feet off the ground with the panel mounted back to back needs raceway seals if the service laterals come into the meter through an underground service. Our area is not prone to flooding and I do not read this section the same. If water is going up 5 feet, there are greater problems. What is the intent of this section and what would be considered an underground distribution system?

 

[102 Inspector]

Sorry, I asked this question a couple years ago and got the answer. Just got into another deep discussion with other inspectors in the area. Stay Safe.

 

[Fred B]

(2017) 225.27 indicates a seal must be used anywhere a raceway enters inside from an exterior of building. I believe older versions had limitation of requirements only stating if from an underground source.
I also believe there is another risk other than simply flooding. I have seen where a grade difference from source to the panel resulted (probably from a damaged buried conduit) a fountain of water coming up out of the conduit end. Fortunately the end that was lower was at the pole not the panel. Made a beautiful frozen fountain effect at the pole it had so much head pressure.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

I don't think the intent is to have seals in a situation like that. The idea is if the underground pipe came into a meter or panel and the said meter or panel was downhill from the raceway then water could enter into the equipment. In your case if the meter is above the highest point of the underground raceway then there is no way for water to back up thru the conduit. It is not meant for flooding situations.

Also as stated above where the conduit goes thru a building wall.

 

[infinity]

The seal is to keep different temperature air from condensing in the equipment.